Washington, D.C.--Congressman Eliot Engel met with Junior Statesman Foundation participant Fahmida Haquw on Wednesday, July 22, 2009. Ms. Haquw is a resident of the Bronx.

“It was my honor to meet with Ms. Haquw, who is a very impressive young woman, and is someone I expect to see great things about in the future. We met in the Capitol building, so she was able to see first hand the activity in the House of Representatives. This may serve as an incentive to further her training to perhaps one day serve the public herself,” said Rep. Engel.

According to their mission statement, the Junior Statesmen mission is to strengthen American democracy by educating and preparing high school students for life-long involvement and responsible leadership in a democratic society. Since 1934, the nonprofit Junior Statesmen Foundation (JSF) and the Junior State of America (JSA) have helped over 500,000 student leaders acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to be active, informed and responsible citizens, voters and statesmen. Every summer, The Junior Statesmen Foundation conducts college level Summer Schools on the campuses of Georgetown, Princeton, Stanford, and Yale Universities.